ePals

=E-Pals Lesson Plan=

__**Objectives**__
Students will be able to use adjectives to describe themselves and others in the target language.
 * Content Objective:**

Students will be able to write and read complete sentences in the target language, using correct grammar and punctuation.
 * Language Objective:**

__Activate Learning & Building Knowledge__
Preview sentences in target language and classify the main parts of the sentence (noun/pronoun, verb, adjective ect).
 * Initiation:**

Sentence structure
 * Activating Background Knowledge:**

Writing and reading sentences in target language
 * Lesson Connection:**

__Lesson Develoment, Design, Delivery__
Students will work in whole class setting, pairs, and individually
 * Grouping:**

Text book, paper, pencil/pen, computer with internet connection.
 * Materials:**

The activity is helpful for visual and auditory learners, additionally it allows for students of various abilities to demonstrate an understanding of reading and writing comprehension in the target language through sentence structure and diverse vocabulary.
 * Strategies / Differentiation:**

//Activity 1// In class setting, review subject pronouns and introduce descriptive adjectives. To check for understanding have students pair up and describe themselves and each other in target language in one or two sentences.
 * Activities:**

//Activity2// Individually, students will write a letter to a pen-pal describing themselves in target language. Letters will include appropriate greeting, description of themselves, description of their best friend, asking what their pen-pal is like, and appropriate closing.

Monitor by walking around for work in pairs (activity1) and letter writing (activity2) Answers to verbal ques and questions
 * Check for Understanding:**

Using computer lab, class will log-in to EPals.com and type their letters to their epal, and read responses from their e-pal.
 * Extensions and Future Application:**

Explanation/Reflection
By incorporating technology (computers & EPals.com) students are more likely to remain engaged throughout the lesson and also commit to the appropriate completion of the task because it involves an outcome that not only is authentic (being able to communicate with native speakers of the target language) but also allows students to experience the value of communicating in other languages.

A conversation with a teacher who carried out this activity stated that students were engaged and enjoyed participating. However, she said the exercise would have been even more meaningful and exciting if there was a real student on the other end from another country communicating in return so that there could be authentic dialogue in the target language. Technology has allowed people be to communicate world wide. Students are more motivated to read, write, and share their personal connections with peers through the use of technology. Using technology as a means for assessing student learning also motivates students to utilize their talents in a nontraditional way. Research has shown that the traditional means for assessing students via paper and pencil, and/or through oral presentations might be difficult and intimidating to some students; especially when their learning mode isn't being able to successfully take a test or recite everything they know about a topic in front of their peers.


 * Contingency Plan:** If for some unexpected reason EPals.com was not available, students can still write their letters and send them by regular mail.